Commentary on Acts 7:26-34

By Bob Myhan

²⁶And the next day he appeared to two of them as they were fighting, and tried to reconcile them, saying, 'Men, you are brethren; why do you wrong one another?' ²⁷But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? ²⁸Do you want to kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday?' ²⁹Then, at this saying, Moses fled and became a dweller in the land of Midian, where he had two sons.

Moses left Egypt this first time out of fear (Ex. 2:13-15). The last time, however, he left by faith (Heb. 11:27).

In Midian, he met and married Zipporah, an Ethiopian woman (Num. 12:1), the daughter of Jethro Ruel, the priest of Midian (Ex. 2:16-21; 3:1), who is also called Raguel (Num. 10:29).

Moses had turned his back on his adopted nation only to be rejected by own people. It may very well be that Moses felt “Plan A” had gone awry, as “the best laid plans of mice and men” often do; but this was by the providence of God. Moses’ “Plan B” was God’s “Plan A.”

³⁰And when forty years had passed, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire in a bush, in the wilderness of Mount Sinai. ³¹When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight; and as he drew near to observe, the voice of the Lord came to him, ³²saying, 'I am the God of your fathers--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' And Moses trembled and dared not look.

³³'Then the LORD said to him, "Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. ³⁴I have surely seen the oppression of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt."  

The first forty years of Moses’ life prepared him for the next forty, which prepared him for the last forty. The details of this period of Moses’ life are nearly as scant as those of the former period. We know little more of this period than Stephen here relates (for details see Ex. 2:15-22). Suffice it to say, here, that this period was spent in the wilderness. This prepared him for the rough road ahead, which life as an Egyptian royal could not have done.

While Moses was being prepared by God to deliver the children of Israel, they were being prepared by God to be delivered (see Ex. 2:23-25).

It is interesting that the first eighty years of Moses’ life is covered in one chapter of Exodus, while the next forty consume the rest of Exodus, all of Leviticus, all of Numbers and all but a few verses of Deuteronomy.

God appears to this eighty-year-old man in a bush that burns but is not consumed. That He had not appeared to Moses previously is indicated by His self-introduction.

The iniquity of the Amorites was now full (Gen. 15:16). And, as Joseph had been used to move Israel from Canaan to Egypt, Moses would be used to bring them back.

(To be continued)

Benevolence and Relief (Part 15)

By Bob Myhan

There can be no doubt that Paul has said not one word about either individual or congregational benevolence, per se, up to this point. He has had one theme throughout. The Galatians had never been subject to the Law of Moses but had allowed themselves to be deceived into thinking that, as Christians, they now had to keep that law.

¹O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? ²This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? ³Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? ⁴Have you suffered so many things in vain--if indeed it was in vain? ⁵Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?-- ⁶just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." (Gal. 3:1-6)

The truth is that the Jews themselves were no longer under the Law of Moses. (Gal. 3:17-25) Thus, the Judaizers were in error.

⁶Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.

The “good things,” here, are the “good things” of the teacher not the student. “Share” is “fellowship” not “contribute.”

Now, Paul warns them again not to be deceived.

⁷Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. ⁸For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

Paul is still writing about walking “in the Spirit” as opposed to fulfilling “the lust of the flesh.” Those who were trying to live by the law were sowing to the flesh not to the Spirit. They would not “reap everlasting life” if they continued to do so. The only way one “sows to the Spirit” is by being “led of the Spirit,” which is to “walk in the Spirit” (see 5:16-18).

⁹And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

“Doing good” here is not “material good” but “spiritual good.” It is walking “in the spirit” so as not to “fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Those who disregard the New Testament and try to live by the Old Testament are “estranged from Christ” and “fallen from grace” (5:1-4). Trying to live by the Old Testament actually hinders one “from obeying the truth.” (5:7)

¹⁰Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Again, the doing “good to all” is not to extend material benevolence, per se, but to walk in the Spirit generally, which certainly includes material benevolence. But “we” and “us” are reflexive pronouns; they include the writer or speaker as one of the plurality contemplated. Since Paul is an individual Christian, he is writing about what individual Christians are to do not about what local churches are to do. We ought to “walk in the Spirit” “to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

(To be continued)

The Power of the Gospel

By Randy Cavender

Paul declared in Romans 1:16 that he was not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. The reason for this was, "It is the power of God to salvation." When the Gospel is taught, there is no doubt that we must let the Gospel do the work, but there is still work we must do. Let me illustrate. Several years ago, I took up the game of golf. Now if you don't know anything about golf, it is harder than it looks. One important tip I received was, "Let the club do the work. If you will do this, you will swing much better." Now what does that mean? Can I leave that club in the bag and expect the ball to be hit? Can I take the club out and just hold it? No I must still swing the club. If I don't, the ball will never be put into play! The same thing is true of the Gospel of Christ. It is indeed the power of God to salvation, but it must be used. Until we take up the sword of the Spirit and use it, sin will not be defeated and souls will be lost. How can one use the Gospel of Christ?

First, we can use it to persuade men to be saved. Some people will object and say that we need not persuade men, that the gospel alone will do this. It is true that we need not use the enticements of this world. The term, "persuade," means, "to prevail upon or win over, to persuade, bringing about a change of mind by the influence of reason or moral considerations." (Vine's Dictionary of N.T. Words p.179) We have the example of Paul when he tried to persuade King Agrippa and the others who were listening to become Christians (Acts 26). In 2 Cor. 5:11, he used the gospel to endeavor to persuade men to be saved and live responsibly before God, in view of the judgment day It is true that we can offer nothing of ourselves to people, but we can offer them the gospel of Christ with all the blessings that come with it

Furthermore, we can live consistently with the gospel. Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matt. 5:16). Paul admonished Timothy, "Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you" (1 Tim. 4:16). The life of a Christian should be a reflection of the life of our Savior (1 Pet. 2:21; John 2:6) When Christians live consistently with the teachings of God and continue to obey the Lord, they will be seen and God will be glorified. But professed Christians living inconsistently with God's will hinder the cause of Christ. Paul instructed Titus, "in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you. Exhort servants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, not pilfering, but showing all fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things." (Titus 2:7-10). What do our friends and neighbors see in our lives?

Finally, there are blessings in Christ of joy and peace that one can experience. &